Wheelbarrow.



N0 MODEL.

'PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. E. M. GUMMINS.

WHEELBARROW.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1908.

622501 iZCzarzzzuz g iatented August 18, 1965;.-

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN M. OUMMINS, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

'WHEELBARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,697, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed June 26, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN M. CUMMINs, a citizen of the United States,residing atSioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa,haveinvented new and useful Improvements in lVheelbarrows, of which thefollowing is a specification.

, This invention relates to certain new and useful attachments forwheelbarrows, trucks, or the like and which when secured in positionwill permit of the passing of a loaded wheelbarrow, truck, or the likeover or onto any ordinary obstacle, such as a step, curbstone, &c.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an attachment forwheelbarrows, trucks, or the like which when secured in position to thewheelbarrow, truck, or the like will permit of easily swinging orturning around in a small space of a loaded Wheelbarrow, truck, or thelike without lifting the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment forwheelbarrows, trucks, or the like which when in position, or rathersecured in position to the wheelbarrow, truck, or the like, will enablea Wheelbarrow, truck, or the like to be quickly converted into athree-wheel vehicle.

The invention further aims to construct an attachment for wheelbarrows,trucks, or the like for obtaining the foregoing objects which shall beextremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficientin itsuse, readily set up or attached in position, and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists ofthe novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morespecifically described,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, whereinlike reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a wheelbarrow,showing my improved attachment secured thereto and in its operativeposition. Fig. 2

Serial No. 163,244. (No model.)

the legs of a wheelbarrow, the wheelbarrow being indicated by thereference character 1 and the legs thereof by the reference characters 23.

The attachment consists of a pair of bearing-brackets,apairofsupporting-wheels, and a shaft for the wheels, the shaft beingindicated by the reference character 4. and the supporting-wheels by thereference characters 5 6. The shaft 4 may be constructed of any suitablematerial, and the diameter of the wheels 5 6 is smaller than that of thewheel 7 of the wheelbarrow; but any preferred diameter of thesupporting-wheels may be employed. The length of the shaft 4 is such asto project from one side of each of the bracketsthat is, when the latterare secured in position and the projecting ends of the shaft 4 areadapted to have the supporting-wheels 5 6 mounted thereon or securedthereto in any suitable manner. The wheels 5 6 are secured to the shaft4, so that they can be readily removed, which is necessary if it isdesired to replace one of the bearing-brackets or when separating theentire attachment.

The bearing-brackets are indicated by the reference characters 8 9, andeach of the brackets consists of a supporting-plate substantiallyrectangular in contour, as at 10, and each of the said plates 10 isprovided near its top and bottom with an opening 11. The outer face ofeach of the plates 11 has formed integral therewith a combinedsuspension and bearing arm 12, the latter extending at right angles tothe outer face of the plate 10. The arm 12 is provided with asubstantially C-shaped opening 13, forming thereby the top of the arm 12with a retaining-lug 14 and a seat 15 for the shaft, and the bottom ofthe arm 12, with a retaininglug 16, a bearing-surface 17, and adepression 20,'forming also a seat for the shaft.

The lug 14 and the seat 15 are substantially in vertical alinement,respectively, with the lug 16 and the bearing-surface 17, and thedepression 20 is substantially in alinement with the seat 15 and thebearing-surface 17. v

The seat 15 is adapted to suspend the shaft 4 and wheels 5 6in theirinoperative position. The surface 17 is adapted to form a bearing forthe shaft 4 when the shaft 4 and wheels 5 6 are moved to their operativeposition, and the depression 20 is adapted to receive the shaft when itis at rest in the lower portion of the arm 12. The lug 14 is adapted toretain the shaft 4 and Wheels 5 6 in their inoperative position, and thelug 16 is adapted to retain the shaft 4 and Wheels 5 6 in theiroperative position.

The substantially C-shaped opening 13 has its major portion extending ina vertical manner, so that when the shaft 4 is elevated out of thepocket 18 it will fall rapidly downward to thelower part of the C-shapedopening into the depression 20, and the weight of the loadedwheelbarrow, truck, or the like will cause the shaft 4 to be moved fromsaid depression 20 up into the pocket 19 and engage the bearing-surface17.

The attachment is secured in position to the legs of the wheelbarrow,truck, or the like in the following manner: The bearingbracket 8 isplaced against one of the legs of the wheelbarrow, and suitable holdfastdevices pass through the openings ll, securing the plate to the leg in amanner as indicated in Fig. 1. The wheel 5 is mounted upon the shaft 4,so that the latter will project a suitable distance from the wheel, andthis projecting end of the shaft is inserted through the C-shapedopening of the bracket 8. The wheel 6 is then mounted in a like manneron the other end of the shaft and also the bracket 9. The latter is thensecured to the other leg of the wheelbarrow, the shaft 4 seating itselfin the depression 20. It will be evident that instead of arranging thewheels 5 6 between the legs of the wheelbarrow the shaft 4 can extendfrom each side of the brackets 8 9 and the wheels 5 6, mounted on thesaid projecting ends.

If it is not necessary to use the supportingwheels 5 6, the operatorelevates the shaft 4, carrying the wheels 5 6 therewith, and moves theshaft 4 into the pocket 18, and it will then rest upon the seat 15, andthe shaft 4 and wheels 5 6 will be suspended in an elevated position bythe arm 12.

If the operator desires to move the shaft 4 and wheels 5 6 to theiroperative position, the shaft 4 is elevated out of the pocket 18 by thetoe of the operator and the shaft 4and wheels 5 6 will fall to thebottom of the C-shaped opening into the depression 20 and owing to theweight of the wheelbarrow or truck the shaft will be caused to movetherefrom into the pocket 19 and engage the bearing-surface 17. Theshaft 4 and wheels 5 6 will then be in their operative position. Thewheelbarrow or truck can then be moved with its load over or onto anyordinary obstaclesuchas a step, curbstone, &c.-or the wheelbarrow can beturned or swung around in a small space without lifting it, and it willbe evident that when the shaft 4 and wheels 5 6 are brought to theiroperative position the wheelbarrow or truck will be converted into athree-wheeled vehicle.

It is thought the many advantages of my new and improved attachment forwheelbarrows, trucks, or the like can be readily understood from theforegoing description,taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations,and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I thereforedo not wish to restrict myself to the details of constructionhereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, butreserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications ascome properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like comprising abearing-bracket con sisting of a supporting-plate and a suspension andbearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially C-shaped openingforming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair of retaininglugs, a seat and abearing-surface.

2. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like comprising abearing-bracket consisting of a supporting-plate and a suspension andbearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially C-shaped openingforming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair of retaininglugs, a seat and abearing-surface, said pockets being substantially in vertical alinement.

3. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, comprising a pairof stationary bearing-brackets each of. which is provided with acombined suspension and bearing arm and a supporting-plate integral withthe said arm, a vertically-adjustable shaft extending through the saidarms, and wheels mounted on the said shaft, said shaft when in itselevated position adapted to be suspended by said arm, and said armacting as a bearing for said shaft when the latter is in its loweredposition.

4. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets each of which is formed with a supporting-plateand a suspension and bearing arm integral with said plate, said armprovided with a substantially C-shaped recess forming thereby a pocketat the upper and lower end of said arm, a vertically-adj ustable shaftextending through the said openings, and wheels mounted on said shaft,said shaft when moved to the upper of said pockets adapted to besuspended by the said arm,

and said arm adapted to form a bearing for the said shaft when thelatter is moved into the lower of said pockets.

5. An attachmentfor wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets, each of which comprises a supporting-plate anda suspension and bearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially C-shaped opening forming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair ofretaining-lugs, a seat and a bearing surface, a vertically adjustableshaft extending through said openings, and when moved to its upperposition adapted to engage in said upper pockets and be suspended bysaid arm, and said arm adapted to form a bearing for the said shaft whenthe latter is moved in said lower pockets, and wheels carried by thesaid shaft.

6. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets, each of which comprises a supporting-plate anda suspension and bearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially C-shaped opening forming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair ofretaining-lugs, a seat and a bearing-surface, said pockets beingsubstantially in vertical alinement, a verticallyadjustable shaftextending through said openings, and when moved to its upper positionadapted to engage in said upper pockets and be suspended by said arm,and said arm adapted to form a bearing for the said shaft when thelatter is moved in said lower pockets, and wheels carried by the saidshaft.

7. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets each of which is provided with a substantiallyC-shaped opening to form an upper and a lower pocket, avertically-adjustable shaft extending through the said openings, saidshaft when moved to its upper position adapted to engage in the saidupper pockets and be suspended by said bracket, and said bracket adaptedto form a bearing for the said shaft when the latter is moved into thesaid lower pockets, and a pair of wheels suitably with asupporting-plate having openings to receive holdfast devices and furtherprovided with a combined suspension and bearing arm integral with thesaid plate, a vertically-adjustable shaft extending through the saidarms, said arms adapted to suspend the said shaft when elevated toits'upper position and adapted to form a bearing for the said shaft whenthe latter is moved to its lower position, and a pair of wheels suitablyconnected to the said shaft.

9. An attachment for wheelbarrows, trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets, each of which comprises a supporting-plate anda suspension and bearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially C-shaped opening forming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair ofretaining-lugs, a pair of seats and a bearing-surface, said pockets being substantially in vertical alinement, a vertically-adjustable shaftextending through said openings, and when moved to its upper positionadapted to engage in said upper pockets and be suspended by said arm,and said arm adapted to form a bearing for the said shaft when thelatter is moved in said lower pockets, and wheels carried by the saidshaft.

10. An attachment for Wheelbarrows,trucks or the like, consisting of apair of bearingbrackets, each of which comprises a supporting-plate anda suspension and bearing arm, said arm provided with a substantially Cshaped opening forming thereby a pair of pockets, a pair ofretaining-lugs, a pair of seats and a bearing-surface, a vertically-adjustable shaft extending through said openings, and when moved to itsupper position adapted to engage in said upper pockets and be suspendedby said arm, and said arm adapted to form a bearing for the said shaftwhen the latter is moved in said lower pockets, and wheels carried bythe said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWIN M. OUMMINS.

Witnesses:

O. W. TAYLOR, O. W. BLAGG.

